Mechanical movement



F Ii

Nov. 24 1925. 1,562,798

A. J. SKALKA MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Filed March 29. 1924 IN VEN TOR.

HJSIKaZZ A TTORNE Y.

Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

PATENT orrics.

ALBERT Jv SKALKA, 0F FAIRFIELD, NEBRASKA.

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

Application filed March 29, 1924. Serial No. 702,85?-

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. SKALKA, a citizen of the United States, residing at F airfield, in the county of Clay and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Movements, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to mechanical movements and more particularly to a device of this character especially adapted for a driving connection between a reciprocating element, the reciprocations of which are subject to variation. and a generator.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which, to a great measure, automatically comp-ensates for such variations so as to provide a comparatively smooth and even operation of the generator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be simply and easily constructed and readily attached to the pump rotation of windmill operated pumps and which will be durable and efficient in service. 7

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation showing a mechanical movement constructed in accordance with my invention applied to the pump rod of a windmill operated pump;

Figure 2 is asection on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the spring motor employed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a vertical reciprocating pump rod such as is ordinarily employed for connecting a pump 11 with a windmill apparatus, (not herein disclosed). The only change made in this pump rod in accordance with my invention is to apply thereto a bracket 12 extending outwardly from one side of the pump rod to afford a means of attaching the mechanism hereinafter described.

At the base or support of the pump 11 I preferably provide a casing 13 within which is mounted a generator 1 1 the armature shaft 15 of which has secured thereto a pinion 16. This pinion 16 is connected through a gear train, represented by gears 17, 18, 19 and 20, with a gear 21 of a spring casing 22. l/Vithin the spring casing 22 are arranged a shaft 23 and a spring 2 1, the spring being of the clockwork type and connected at one end to the shaft and at the opposite end to the casing.

The shaft 23 projects through the wall of the casing 13 and has secured thereto a ratchet wheel 35. At opposite sides of the ratchet wheel arms 26 and 27 are pivotally mounted upon the shaft 23, each of these arms having a pawl 28 coacting with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. These arms are oppositely directed and extend to opposite sides of the shaft 23 and each have connected to the end thereof a link 29. The ends of these links are pivotally connect-ed to a yoke 30 which is slidably mounted up on a shaft 31 between adjustable stop collars 32. Between the stop collars and the yoke springs 33 surround the shaft 31 and tend to maintain the yoke 30 in a position midway between the stop collars. The upper end of the shaft 31 is connected, as at 34, to the outer end of the bracket 12.

The operation of the device is as follows: During operation of the windmill (not shown) the shaft 10 is reciprocated and, due to varying intensity to which the windmill is subjected, this reciprocation will be variable as to the number of strokes in a given period of time. At each down stroke of the pump rod 10 the pawl 28 of the arm 26 engages the teeth of the ratchet to advance the ratchet wheel and the shaft At each up stroke thereof the pawl of the arm 27 operates to advance the wheel and. shaft. This operation is transmitted through the shaft to the spring which is wound until its intensity is sufficient to overcome the in ertia of the armature of the generator 14 and of the gear train connecting the spring casing 22 and the armature shaft 15. The

generator having once been set in motion the continued operation of the pump rod 10 will continue the operation of the generator. Assuming the windmill to be operating at a slow speed, as it would in slow starting, the coiling of the spring 24 is more or less gradually accomplished and if the speed attained by the reciprocating rod 10 does not exceed a predetermined speed full motion of the rod 10 will be transmitted through the mechanism hereinbefore described to the generator. If, however, the speed of reciprocation increases so that the spring 24; is wound beyond a given tightness, then the springs come into play. The resistance of the gear train and generator to operation from the rod causes these springs to yield to a certain extent.

During normal operation the pawls of the arms 27' at each cycle of operation of the rod 10, that is to say, each two movements, one in each direction, will advance the wheel through approximately one-quarter of its periphery. hen, however, the springs 33 yield the structure of the yoke 30will be altered and shortened with the result that instead of advancingone-quarter of its periphery the wheel will only advance say three-sixteenths, thus reducing the amount of drive applied to the generator and accordingly reducing the speed at which the generator is operated. By proper adjustment of the yokes 30-to adjust the tension of the springs 33 and proper proportioning of these springs to the springs 24, a point may be'arrived at which a substantially uniform speed of operation of the generator 14 may be attained.

It Will be obvious that the principle of operation hereinbefore set forth is capable of other applications than that disclosed and it will be further obvious that the construction of the'meclianism is capable of a considerable range of change and modification without in any manner departing from the spirit ofmy invention and'I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

1 claim 1. Means for converting-the reciprocation of an element reciprocating at varying speeds to a substantially uniform motion including a pair of shafts, a yieldable conmotion between said shafts for transmitting rotary motion from one of the shafts to the other thereof, said connection storing energy for transmission from one shaft to another thereof, anda connection between the reciprocating element and one of said shafts for applyingstep by step rotary motion to the shaft including apart yielding in proportion'tothe'load.

2, Means for converting the reciprocation of an element reciprocating at varying speeds to a substantially uniform motion including a pair of shafts, a yieldable connection between said shafts for transmitting rotary motion from one of the shafts to the other thereof, said connection storing energy for transmission from one shaft to another thereof, a connection between the reciprocating element and one of said shafts for applying step'by step rotary motion-to the shaft including a part yielding in proportion to the load and by such yielding shortening the length of the steps'of the step by step rotary motion applied to the shaft comprising a ratchet wheel secured to said shaft, a pair of arms pivoted to the shaft and each including a pawl coacting with the ratchet, ayoke to which the arms are connected, and a yieldable connection between the yoke and the reciprocating ele ment.

Means for converting the reciprocation of an element reciprocating at varying" speeds to a substantially uniform motion including a pair of shafts, a yieldable connection between said shafts for transmitting rotary motion from one of the shafts tothe other thereof, said connection storing energy for transmission from one shaft to another thereof, a connection between the reciproeating element and one of said shafts for applying step by step rotary motion to the shaft including a part yielding: in proportion to the load and by suohyielding-shortening the length of' the steps of the step: by step rotary motion applied to the shaft comprising a ratchetwheel secured to said shaft, a pair of arms pivoted to the shaft and each including a pawl'coacting With'the ratchet, a yoke to which the arms are connected, and a yieldable connection between the yoke and the reciprocating element including a shaft connected to the reciprocating element and upon which the yoke is slidable, adjustable collars on said shaft at opposite sides of the yoke, springs surrounding the shaft between said collars and saidyoke.

In testimony whereof I hereuntoaflix my signature.

ALBERT J. SKALKA. 

